Daily Reading – May 19, 2020

Jer. 2:1–13

2:1 The Lord’s message came to me, 2“Go and declare in the hearing of the people of Jerusalem: ‘This is what the Lord says: “I have fond memories of you, how devoted you were to me in your early years. I remember how you loved me like a new bride; you followed me through the wilderness, through a land that had never been planted. 3Israel was set apart to the Lord; they were like the first fruits of a harvest to him. All who tried to devour them were punished; disaster came upon them,” says the Lord.

4Now listen to what the Lord’s message, you descendants of Jacob,

all you family groups from the nation of Israel.

5This is what the Lord says:

“What fault could your ancestors have possibly found in me

that they strayed so far from me?

They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to me.

Luke 23:44–56

23:44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45because the sun’s light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And after he said this he breathed his last.

47Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49And all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw these things.

50Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man. 51(He had not consented to their plan and action.) He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock, where no one had yet been buried. 54It was the day of preparation and the Sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they returned and prepared aromatic spices and perfumes.

[Luther writes,] “What else can Solomon intend with so many words (Prov. 4:24-27), do you think, than to keep us on the straight (schnurgleichen) path, that only God’s Word and way may stand out before our eyes, and no bypath, be it to the right or to the left, good or bad. But now man’s teachings are but mere bypaths and not the divine way (Richtstrasse).” (21)

This daily Bible reading guide, Reading the Word of God, was conceived and prepared as a result of the ongoing discussions between representatives of three church bodies: Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). The following individuals have represented their church bodies and approved this introduction and the reading guide: LCC: President Robert Bugbee; NALC: Bishop John Bradosky, Revs. Mark Chavez, James Nestingen, and David Wendel; LCMS: Revs. Albert Collver, Joel Lehenbauer, John Pless, and Larry Vogel.

Contact Us

North American Lutheran Church

2299 Palmer Dr, Suite 220 New Brighton, MN 55112-2202 USA

Phone: +1 888 551 7254E-mail: info@thenalc.orgWebsite: thenalc.org

About the NALC

A renewed Lutheran community moving forward in faith, the NALC is focused on living out Christ’s Great Commission to go and make disciples in North America and around the globe. We invite you to learn more about our church family.